Feather picking can also be a social thing. Like Brian said, though, it's worthwhile to give them other diversions. It may minimize the amount of time they spend contemplating each other's chests/necks/tails ...

My hens like a clean-shaven fellow...if I put a bearded breed of rooster in a hen pen, when they're roosting, the hens will pluck every tiny 'beard' feather from his throat, and sometimes his muffs as well. And the weird thing is, is he will stand there with his neck stretched up as if he's enjoying it.

Had a flock of lovely friendly Wyandotte hens try to deconstruct a rose comb of the newlywed (spell check contribution, but I guess it works?) Rooster, and he barely moved, really, some males will do anything for a bit of female attention.

Had a flock of lovely friendly Wyandotte hens try to deconstruct a rose comb of the newlywed (spell check contribution, but I guess it works?) Rooster, and he barely moved, really, some males will do anything for a bit of female attention.